Arrangements for guiding cartridge belts

ABSTRACT

Means for guiding a cartridge belt from a first duct into a second duct pivotable relatively to the first duct through an aperture in a rotatable disc arranged parallel to the cartridges of the belt present in the ducts. A guide rail is arranged on a wall of the first duct and the wall is behind the end surfaces of the cartridges of the belt. The guide rail can be shaped in accordance with the position of the second duct relatively to the position of the first duct. A part of the guide rail, adjacent an aperture in the rotatable disc, is in each position of the disc arranged substantially parallel to the end surface of the cartridge passing through the aperture in the disc. The said part is pivotably mounted on a lever which is pivotable about an axis stationary relative to the first duct and a further part of the guide rail is pivotably mounted on the first duct. A rod is pivotably mounted, at or near one end, on the disc and, at or near the respective other end, on the lever.

United States Patent BELTS Primary Examiner Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-Stephen Ci Bentley Attorney-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack ABSTRACT: Means for guiding a cartridge belt from a first duct into a second duct pivotable relatively to the first duct through an aperture in a rotatable disc arranged parallel to the cartridges of the belt present in the ducts. A guide rail is arranged on a wall of the first duct and the wall is behind the end surfaces of the cartridges of the belt. The guide rail can be shaped in accordance with the position of the second duct 4 cums" Drawing Fm relatively to the position of the first duct. A part of the guide U.S. .t rail adjacent an aperture in the rotatable disc is in each p i III.

-- tion of the disc arranged substantially parallel to the end surl l Search 89/33 33 face of the cartridge passing through the aperture in the disc BB, 33 BC, 34, 36 H, 36 K. 37, 5 A. 40 B The said part is pivotably mounted on a lever which is pivotable about an axis stationary relative to the first duct and a [56] Rderences Cm further part of the guide rail is pivotably mounted on the first UNITED STATES PATENTS duct. A rod is pivotably mounted, at or near one end, on the 2,483,334 9/1949 D'Assis-Fonseca et al. 89/33 BB disc and, at or near the respective other end, on the lever.

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ERICH JENNY, Inventor BY, Mikhail. 1 /M Attorneys Patented Aug. 24, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Attorneys ARRANGEMENTS FOR GUIDING CARTRIDGE BELTS The invention relates to an arrangement for guiding a cartridge belt from a first duct into a second duct pivotable relatively to the first duct through an aperture in a rotatable disc arranged parallel to the cartridge of the belt present in the ducts.

In a known arrangement of this type, the pivotable duct is fastened, for example, to a weapon. In a certain initial position of the weapon, the aperture in the disc is so directed that the axis of the cartridge present in this opening is parallel to the axes of the cartridges present in the stationary, i.e. first, duct. If the weapon and the pivotable duct fastened thereto is swung out of the initial position mentioned, the disc and the axis of the cartridge present in this opening also rotates in relation to the axes of the cartridges present in the stationary duct.

It has been found that, upon considerable swiveling of the weapon from the initial position mentioned, i.e. upon a large deflection of the cartridge belt, a great resistance to motion occurs, and a reliable guidance of the cartridges upon passing from the stationary duct into the pivotable duct is no longer guaranteed. As the cartridges in the vertically directed stationary duct are drawn upwards, the effect of the weight of the cartridges is that, upon sharp deflection of the cartridge belt, the individual cartridges are pressed against a sidewall of the duct. The cartridges bounce with their rear end surface against one edge of the disc aperture, which leads to disturbances.

The invention aims to mitigate these disadvantages, and to produce an arrangement in which the resistance to motion which occurs upon sharp deflection of the cartridges is as small as possible.

An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for guiding a cartridge belt from a first duct into a second duct pivotable relatively to the first duct through an aperture in a rotatable disc arranged parallel to the cartridges of the belt present in the ducts, wherein a guide rail is arranged on a wall of the first duct, the wall being behind the end surfaces of the cartridges of the belt, which guide rail can be shaped in accordance with the position of the second duct relatively to the position of the first duct and wherein a part of the guide rail, adjacent the aperture in the rotatable disc, is in each position of the disc arranged substantially parallel to the end surface of the cartridge passing through the aperture in the disc.

One embodiment of the arrangement of the invention for guiding a cartridge belt is described hereinunder by reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. I shows a cross section through a stationary and a movable part ofa cartridge feed duct, and through a disc,

FIG. 2 shows a section in accordance with the line llII in FIG. 1, in which the disc is represented in an initial position which, for example, corresponds to the position of a weapon having an elevation of zero degrees;

FIG. 3 shows a section in accordance with line Ill-III in FIG. 2, whereby, for the sake of clarity, the cartridges have been omitted; and

FIG. 4 shows a section similar to that of FIG. 2, whereby the disc is shown in a position which corresponds to a large angle of elevation of the weapon.

In the drawings, only one part of an ammunition duct for feeding cartridge belts from an ammunition container to a weapon is shown. Such a weapon, having an ammunition container and a feeding duct, is described in detail in US. Pat. No. 3,029,706 granted Apr. 17, 1962.

In accordance with FIGS. I, 2 and 3, the ammunition duct has a stationary duct II], which is rigidly connected to an ammunition container, not shown, as well as a pivotable duct 50, which is rigidly connected to a weapon, not shown, and consequently participates in the swinging movement of the weapon about an axis of elevation YY. Arranged between the two ducts l and 50 is a disc 14, which is pivoted in the up perrnost part of the vertically standing duct 10. For mounting the disc 14, fastened to the duct I0, is a ring 15, which has a shoulder which is formed by an inwardly directed first flange 16. A second flange 51, which corresponds in its shape to the first flange I6, is arranged at the end of the duct 50. This second flange SI butts against the ring 51 of the duct 10 and forms a second shoulder. Through the two flanges I6 and 51, the disc 14 in the ring 15 is protected against axial shifting. The two ducts l0 and 50 are pivotably connected to each other by a second ring 52.

The disc 14 is fastened neither to the stationary duct 10 nor to the pivotable duct 50, and is rotatable in relation to both ducts. Described in the U.S.A. Patent above is a gear mechanism which transfers the rotary movement of the duct 50 to the disc 14. This gear mechanism, which is not shown in the attached drawing, is designed in such way that the rotation of the disc 14 in relation to the stationary duct 10 is smaller than the rotation of the pivotable duct 50 in relation to the stationary duct 10. The transmission ratio of this gear mechanism amounts preferably to 112.5, which means that, upon pivoting of the duct 50 through in relation to the duct 10, the disc [4 is rotated through 30 in relation to the duct 10,

As is best evident from FIG. 2, the stationary duct I0 possesses a backwall II, beyond which the annular flange 16, which is fastened to the duct I0, projects. Fastened to this projecting pan of the annular flange I6 is a wall 17, which merges into the backwall ll of the duct 10. The wall 17 is arranged parallel to the disc 14, and has a bolt 19, on which an angle lever 20 is pivotally mounted at one end. Hinged on the other end of the angle lever 20 is one end of a rod 22, whose other end is hinged via a bolt 23 on the disc 14. Through rotation of the disc 14, the angle lever 20 is consequently pivoted about the stationary bolt 19.

The angle lever 20 is located in a housing which is formed by two walls 24 which are fastened to the backwall 1]. Present in the backwall are two openings 12 and I3, the opening 12 being intended for the passage of the rod 22, while the other opening I3 is intended for the passage ofa rail 44. This rail 44 is arranged substantially parallel to the backwall II and con sists of three parts 28, 31 and 33, the central section 33 being flexible, while the other two are comparatively resistant to bending. The first section 31 of the rail 44 is pivotably mounted on the angle lever 20 by a bolt 21. The second end section 28 is pivotable about a bolt 21. The second end section 28 is pivotable about a bolt 27, which is to be found in a housing 25 arranged on the backwall 11. This housing 25 has two sidewalls 26, parallel to each other, in which the bolt 27 is fastened. Seated on this bolt 27 is a hub 30, which is connected via two circular sector shaped webs 29 to the curved end of the second end section 28 of the rail 44. This curved end of the section 28 of the rail 44 protrudes from the duct l0 and extends into the housing 25, and the section 31 protrudes through the opening 13 from the duct 10 into the housing formed by the walls 24. The disc 14 possesses an aperture in the form of an approximately rectangular opening 43, through which the belt with the cartridges passes through the disc 14. The disc I4 has, furthermore, a guide surface 35, which on the one hand extends into the stationary duct 10 and on the other hand into the pivotable duct 50. The surface 35 guides the cartridge 34 upon passage through the disc 14 on the one side of the opening 43, and forms a limitation of the aforementioned opening 43 in the disc 14. The opening in the disc I4 is further limited by a first roller 37, which is arranged substantially parallel to the cartridges and guides the letter immediately after passage through the disc opening 43 on the other side of the opening 43. The roller 37 is pivoted on the disc I4 Furthermore, pivoted on the disc I4 is a second roller 38, whose axis is arranged parallel to the end surfaces of the cartridges 34. For mounting the second roller 38, fastened to the disc I4 are two ribs 40, 4], in which an axle 39, which carries the roller 38, is mounted, The second roller 38 forms a guide for the rear end surfaces 45 ofthe cartridges immediately after passage through the disc I4. In direction of movement of the cartridges 34, this second roller 38 is arranged so close behind the guide rail 44 that the surface 45 of the cartridges 34 is constantly guided, and a smooth crossing of the cartridges from the guide rail 44 onto the second roller 38 is provided,

The method of operation of the arrangement described is as follows:

in the position, shown in FIG. 3, of the disc 14, in which the longitudinal axis of the opening 43 is directed perpendicularly to the backwall ll of the duct, the guide rail 44 has no function to fulfill.

Upon rotation of the disc 14, the angle lever 20 is pivoted by the rod 22 about the stationary axis 19, and thereby the part 31 of the guide rail 44 is pivoted about the bolt l8. Throughout this movement, part of the lever 20 extends through a notch 46 in a guide rail 44, which notch 46 is situated on the side adjacent the disc 14. As a result of the movement of the lever 20, the guide rail 44 is bent into the duct 10, whereby practically the entire free part 33, situated between the parts 28 and 31 of the rail and which is slightly resistant to bending, is deformed, and the lower part 28 is pivoted about the axis 27.

As FIG. 4, shows, the surface, directed towards the interior of the duct, of the upper part of the guide rail 44 lies, after the rotation of the disc 14, in a plane in which also the end surface 45 of the cartridge present in the passage opening 43 of the disc 44 lies. This plane is substantially tangential to the curved part of the guide rail 44 where the rail 44 is intersected by the plane which extends perpendicularly thereto and which contains the axis of rotation of the disc 14. The rear end surfaces 45 of the cartridges slide along in the uppermost part of the duct of the guide rail 44, whereby, upon passage through the disc 14, they are directed parallel to the axis of the roller 38, and arrive onto the roller 38 as smoothly as possible from the guide rail 44 I claim:

1. A duct arrangement for guiding cartridge belts in their passage from a magazine to a weapon comprising a first stationary duct, a second duct pivotable relatively to said first duct, a rotatable disc mounted between said two ducts, said disc having an aperture for the cartridge belts arranged parallel to the cartridge of the belt present in said ducts, a guide rail arranged in said first duct mounted behind the end surfaces of the cartridges of the belt, said guide rail having a variable profile in accordance with the position of said second duct relative to the position of said first duct, and said guide rail having a portion adjacent said aperture which is in each position of said disc arranged substantially parallel to the end surfaces of the cartridge passing through said aperture.

2 An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide rail is fastened with said portion pivotably mounted on a lever which is pivotable about an axis stationary relative to said first duct, a further part of said guide rail being pivotably mounted on said first duct and a rod is pivotably mounted adjacent one end on said disc and adjacent the other end on said lever.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide rail is braced, on its side opposed to the cartridges, on a guide bolt.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein both said lever and said portion of the guide rail hinged thereto are outside said first duct. 

1. A duct arrangement for guiding cartridge belts in their passage from a magazine tO a weapon comprising a first stationary duct, a second duct pivotable relatively to said first duct, a rotatable disc mounted between said two ducts, said disc having an aperture for the cartridge belts arranged parallel to the cartridge of the belt present in said ducts, a guide rail arranged in said first duct mounted behind the end surfaces of the cartridges of the belt, said guide rail having a variable profile in accordance with the position of said second duct relative to the position of said first duct, and said guide rail having a portion adjacent said aperture which is in each position of said disc arranged substantially parallel to the end surfaces of the cartridge passing through said aperture.
 2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide rail is fastened with said portion pivotably mounted on a lever which is pivotable about an axis stationary relative to said first duct, a further part of said guide rail being pivotably mounted on said first duct and a rod is pivotably mounted adjacent one end on said disc and adjacent the other end on said lever.
 3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide rail is braced, on its side opposed to the cartridges, on a guide bolt.
 4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein both said lever and said portion of the guide rail hinged thereto are outside said first duct. 